Moto X (2nd Gen) for Verizon is getting Android 5.1 OTA

Just two days ago, Verizon announced the soak-test of Android 5.1 for the Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) in the US and now the update is rolling out. Some Moto X (2nd Gen) owners on Verizon network have already received the update. The new update brings several tweaks including an important one - Factory Reset Protection. Once a Google account is set on the Moto X (2nd) then the same login credentials are needed to reset the phone to its factory settings. So lost or stolen devices will remain locked and unauthorized reactivations will be prevented. New Interruption controls allow managing the missed alarms and will let you reschedule them. Other improvements include new Volume settings panel icons and pull-down controls for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth devices selection. Source |...

Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update starts rolling out to Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 (SM-T335)

The official Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update for the LTE variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 has started rolling out.

Samsung Galaxy A8 hands-on video surfaces

The Galaxy A8 is heading our way. We've heart it loud and clear and its really getting to a point where the amount of rumors for the upcoming handset is getting ridiculous. The phablet has appeared in live images, as well as the certification authorities - TENAA and FCC. And if that wasn't enough to clear the smoke on the A8, today we get to see a lengthy hands-on video with a specs rundown and even a UI and camera demo. Oddly enough, the clip comes courtesy of TENAA. We have little doubt that the certification authority has early access to devices, as it is necessary for it to do its job. Consequently, the issued certificates are often the first trustworthy source for specifications and crude photos of upcoming devices. Yet, actually showing an unannounced phone on video seems a bit too much. The clip itself, although quite blurry and out of focus for large intervals, leaves little to the imagination. We get a clear view of the Galaxy A8's metal design, which we have come to expect from an A-series device. We also get a good look at the gorgeous 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display and also a sneak peek at the UI and camera. Better yet, the phones specs are also shown in the clip, which adds yet another level of certainty to what we already knew. The Galaxy A8 measures 157.7mm x 76.7mm x 5.9mm, which makes it the thinnest Samsung smartphone to date. The display seems to be identical to the one in the Galaxy Note 3 - sporting FullHD resolution and 386ppi density. Powering the device is Qualcomm's popular mid-range chip - the Snapdragon 615. It is by no means beastly, but is perfectly capable with four Cortex A53 cores, clocked at 1.7 GHz and another four at 1.0 GHz. The chipset comes equipped with an Adreno 405 GPU and CAT4 LTE connectivity. Memory is set at 2GB and 16GB for onboard storage. Thankfully, there is also a microSD card slot for adding extra space. The camera setup is comprised of a 16MP main shooter and a 5MP selfie one. The physical home button is also equipped a fingerprint sensor, as was previously rumored, although here it is referred to as a "biometric authentication system". The whole thing is powered by a 3050 mAh battery and boots Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Samsung's own TouchWiz on top. The only thing really missing in the Galaxy A8 picture is a release date and a price tag. But, judging by the elevated interest in the phablet, both should come along...

Project Spartan renamed to Edge in latest Windows build

Project Spartan was the work-in-progress name for the upcoming Microsoft web browser, which should replace the old-school Internet Explorer in Windows 10. The company has already revealed its official name – Edge – a while back.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G receives a price cut in India

Motorola Droid Turbo Android 5.1 update expected later this week

LG Volt 2 and Tribute 2 now available on Boost Mobile

The LG Volt 2 and Tribute 2 smartphones - which are successors to last year's Volt and Tribute - are now available for purchase in the US, where Boost Mobile is selling them for $150 and $100, respectively. Specs-wise, the Volt 2 is powered by a Snapdragon 410 SoC with a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, and sports a 5-inch IPS display with 720 x 1280 pixels. It comes with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB expandable internal memory, and packs in a 2540 mAh battery. In terms of camera, the device features an 8MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. It offers LTE connectivity and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box. On the other hand, the Tribute 2 sports a smaller 4.5-inch IPS screen with 480 x 854 pixels, a 5MP rear and a 1.3 MP front-facing camera, and packs in a smaller 1900 mAh battery. The rest of its specifications are similar to the Volt 2. In terms of software, both offer features such as Knock Code, Quick Memo+, and Gesture Shot. Source 1 2 3 |...

Google Hangouts for iOS updated with new UI and ability to share multiple photos at once

The Google Hangouts iOS app has received an update, bumping it to version 4.0. The update brings a new design that the company claims makes it faster to start new conversations, and add stickers, emoji, and photos.

Sprint will push Android 5.1 Lollipop to HTC One M9 tomorrow

Reuters: Samsung will launch a few Tizen smartphones this year

Honor 7 by Huawei leaks in photos and video ahead of its launch

LG Chem outs a hexagonal battery for smartwatches

LG Chem has developed a hexagonal battery for smartwatches. The solution improves the capacity by 25% in comparison to the currently available rectangular batteries.

Alleged press renders showcase the unannounced Moto G (2015)

Meizu will launch MX5 tomorrow in India too

2015 Toyota Sienna

Minivans such as the 2015 Toyota Sienna have a tough mission: keep occupants happy and occupied in their on comfortable spaces. Minivans aren't usully considered the coolest shapes on the road, but they're one of the best ways to move a large group of people or a whole lot of stuff. For 2015, the Sienna receives upgrades, new options, and a...

2016 GMC Terrain

The GMC Terrain is one of two front-drive-based models offered in GMC's otherwise body-on-frame lineup. An alternative to vehicles like the Honda CR-V or the Terrain's sibling the Chevy Equinox, it has boxy, intriguing styling, terrific gas mileage in four-cylinder form, and good interior space for people and cargo. For 2016, the Terrain receives...

2016 Nissan Maxima

For years now, the Nissan Maxima—its premium sedan—has labored under a corporate identity crisis. As the Altima grew in size and stature, mainstream buyers wondered why the nearly-identical Maxima commanded a higher price. Luxury buyers, meanwhile, could get more style and prestige from an entry-level Infiniti. Nissan hopes to change...

2016 Acura RDX Preview

The Acura RDX is significantly revised mechanically and mildly restyled for the 2016 model year and it is a gem of a small crossover sport-utility. Smooth and sophisticated, it's versatile and practical and packed with the latest technology. RDX is built like a car, drives like a car, and its small size makes it maneuverable in tight quarters and...

Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus rumored to pack 3,000 mAh battery

Google Maps will soon list all railroad crossings in the US

Last year there was a big rise in the number of rail crossing accidents in the US, and the authorities are working with Google to try and do something about it. Namely, you will soon find all of the railroad crossings in the US inside Google Maps.

OnePlus 2 will have a fingerprint sensor

OnePlus seemingly can't let go of its past marketing ways. Last year the Chinese company introduced its first handset by drip feeding people information about it in a continuous teaser campaign that lasted for weeks, and now it's doing the exact same thing for the OnePlus 2. That said, this time around we get one teaser every few days about one specific feature of the upcoming phone. So we've already found out that it will employ the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, overheating issues be damned, and that it will be finally made official on July 27 through a VR presentation. Now it's time to talk about security, it seems. The OnePlus 2 will sport a fingerprint sensor, something that's been featured more and more on high-end Android devices lately. So this isn't a big surprise, but nice to see nevertheless. OnePlus promises that the part in its next flagship will be "one of the latest and most advanced fingerprint sensors out there". It also claims it will work faster than Apple's Touch ID, which is a bold statement to make. The company also explains that last year while designing the One, it chose not to use a fingerprint scanner because the technology simply wasn't good enough at the time. Sensors were inaccurate and using one sometimes took more than simply entering a password. Now though it's found a refined and "lightning quick" part, and it's going to use it in the OnePlus 2. This sensor will let you store up to five fingerprint profiles. Thanks for the tip,...

Motorola Droid Kinzie for Verizon is detailed too

The Motorola device with the model number XT1585, which is apparently codenamed Kinzie, has been leaked about a month ago when it was said to be on its way to Verizon. Hence, it's definitely going to use Droid branding. Some of its specs were outed back then, but now we have a complete picture thanks to yet another benchmark listing. This tells us that the phone will feature a 5.5-inch QHD (2,560x1,440) touchscreen, a 20 MP rear camera with 4K video capture, a 5 MP front-facing unit, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. It will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 chipset, which comes with an octa-core CPU in the big.LITTLE configuration - with four high-performance Cortex-A57 cores, and four battery-friendly Cortex-A53 ones. Most of these things were mentioned before, but the screen size is different than the 4.6" previously rumored. The prototype which was tested ran Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The phone also has support for NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. If history repeats itself, expect to see this in stores around October. Based on its specs, it should be the successor to the Droid Turbo from 2014. Source |...

Microsoft Lumia 940 XL gets benchmarked, has specs outed

The upcoming Microsoft Lumia 940 XL has been rumored for a few months at this point, as the phablet half of the company's two Windows 10-running flagships for the latter part of the year. Complementing it in the software giant's roster will be the smaller Lumia 940. Today we get a very good idea about what to expect from the Lumia 940 XL in terms of specs, because it's been put through the paces of a benchmark that thankfully lists the most important hardware information in its online database. And it mostly confirms past mumblings about the device. So, the Lumia 940 XL (model number RM-1100) will sport a 5.7-inch QHD (2,560x1,440) touchscreen, as well as a rear camera featuring a resolution of at least 17 MP - but certainly more, since this benchmark always underrepresents these values. So we assume there will at least be a 20 MP lens in there. It will shoot 4K video. Moving on, we've got a 5 MP selfie snapper, 16GB of built-in storage, and at least 1.5GB of RAM (but more likely 2GB, again because the benchmark under reports such values). Running the show will be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 SoC, which is confirmed by the presence of the Adreno 430 GPU. This will have an octa-core CPU in ARM's big.LITTLE configuration as always. The Lumia 940 XL is going to be introduced as the first top of the line phablet to run the new mobile version of Windows 10, and it's expected to become official in the next few months. It might have a USB Type-C connector, and even some iris scanning tech on board. Its battery capacity has been rumored to be 3,300 mAh. Source (in...

Snapdragon 820 benchmarked, close to Exynos 7420 performance